Great and Greater Forebearers

This portrait of Augustus A. Burdick 1831-1864 is the oldest family picture I have found so far. Augustus Burdick was the grandfather of my grandmother Helen, making him one of my great-great-grandfathers. Augustus was killed in 1864 during the US Civil War. I actually know a little about Augustus because of Leone Johns, one of Helen’s nieces, compiled a brief family genealogy. In this document, Leone quoted a letter from the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Shiloh National Military Park, and Shiloh Tennessee.

Lieutenant Burdick’s death is described by regimental commander, Col. Joseph Woods in volume 39, series I of War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, War Dept., Washington, 1892.

Lieutenant A. A. Burdick, acting regimental quartermaster, who was killed, had been ordered to the rear with his train; but after seeing his wagon properly parked, he came to the front and volunteered to assist in bringing forward ammunition. While thus engaged he was struck by a shell and instantly killed.”